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Mr Smith Goes To Washington Analysis

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Mr Smith Goes To Washington Analysis
The 1930 era was undeniably an era of extraordinary political innovation, as times passed politics and views of politicians were swayed back and forth throughout the course of a 75-year period. The films Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and The Distinguished Gentlemen were made in two different eras but the center viewpoints both follows a political system. In the movie Mr. Smith goes to Washington illustrates the strengths as well as the dysfunction of the political system in the United States. At the same time show how the main character (Jeff Smith) who is an idealistic man becomes senate and how he reaches justice. On the other hand, The Distinguished gentlemen is the story of a con artist (Thomas Johnson) who rises to the office of the United …show more content…
Smith goes to Washington portrays politicians to be powerful men that are crooked. The city of Washington is full of mean-spirited politicians that are only looking to profit themselves. It also shows a divide between American idealism and harsh reality, a divide that’s most apparent in the films portrayal of big institutions specifically the government. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington utilizes many classic symbols of American democracy through the main character Jeff Smith. Even though the main character is portrayed as an “Average Joe” he makes a differences on how the politics is governed. The film is in favor of all the good things such as the truth and honesty. Also the ideals that is laid out in the Declaration of Independence and is against the bad things like corruption. As the movie concludes the meaningful victory shows that Jeff Smith refused to back down, give in, or get scared even though he faced multiple powerful politicians. This is different in the movie The Distinguished Gentlemen due to the fact that the main character Thomas Johnson is a con artist who become a congressman with his trickery. Thomas Johnson is depicted as a classical stereotype, the lovable con man who is just looking to strike his fortune. However, the similarities in both films are that they depict the majority of congressmen to be unconcerned and unethical. Both films deal with political issues and appear to have two different sides to

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